He Makes Engines From Scratch

He Makes Engines From Scratch AG WORLD 28-5-24 "I've built five miniature stationary gasoline engines just for show. People really get a kick out of them," says Sherley Brown of Brandenburg, Ky. Brown is a member of the Lincoln Trail Antique Power of the Past Club. His engines range in scale from 1/16 to 1/8, and he has one hooked up to a cut-off saw. "I've made three single-cylinder horizontal engines, one that's a 2-cylinder, horizontal-opposed, and another that's a single-cylinder vertical model," he explains. "Two have hit and miss governors and the cylinders are from 1-in. bore to a 2-in. bore." Brown was inspired to build his first small engine when he saw an internet article a few years ago about a fellow who had built one. He says his engines are made mostly from aluminum and brass. The cylinders come in round stock aluminum. "The frames are all made out of aluminum plate. Some of the fittings and cylinder heads are made from brass," he says. "They are all machined and hand-fitted to the specifications I started out with in my mind to build. I improvise in my head as I go along." Brown says he has been around machine shops all of his life and he has a small machine shop of his own. The main equipment he used on these projects includes: a lathe, an end mill, a band saw, a drill press, and taps and dies. "Over the years, I've also built other things û a 1/16 scale stage coach, some electric motors made with Chevy starter solenoids, and a scale model of a Case steam engine. I've also restored 20 to 25 tractors. I'm a guy that, when I get started on something, I can't get it out of my head. Depending on the size, I can finish one of these miniature engines in three to four weeks." He says the parts for each engine cost him anywhere from $150 to $230. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Sherley Brown, 1200 Turner Rd., Brandenburg, Ky. 40108 (ph 270 422-3104; fax 270 422-4686).

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